Helmet mounted pistol



Sept. 15, $1953 A. B. DE SALARDI HELMET MOUNTED PISTOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 14. 1949 INVENTOR.

Set 15, W53 A. B. DE SALARDI HELMET MOUNTED PISTOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 14, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

Sept. 15, 1953 A. B. DE SALARDI HELMET MOUNTED PISTOL 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .Filed Feb. 14, 1949 f Li 5 s kw 1% IN VEN TOR:

ifiriiii'iiiiib'" iiiil" Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT FFEQE HELMET MOUNTED PISTOL Albert B. De Salardi, Wilkinsburg, Pa.; Mary De Salardi, administratrix of said Albert B.

De Salardi, deceased 8 Claims.

This invention pertains to firearms such as self loading pistols mounted upon the head gear or helmet of the wearer or operator.

Modern warfare requires activities and skills demanding full exercise of the coordinated mental and physical abilities of the fighting men. They have to carry, assemble and operate devices, advance and fight in quick succession if not simultaneously. In close combat the hands and arms of the fighter are occupied with the handling of the rifle, hence are not available for other activities such as cutting barbed wire, carrying and assembling equipment etc. As a consequence extra men are used for such activities reducing the number available for actual combat. Furthermore the mobility and speed of advancement of the troops is hampered by the stops and assumption of stationary positions necessary every time before a rifle can be aimed and fired.

My invention obviates these and other drawbacks and increases greatly the fighters efficiency and success in combat by providing a helmet mounted gun which enables him to advance and simultaneously produce aimed and controlled gun fire without occupying his arm-s and hands which remain free to perform other needed tasks.

Police officers and prison guards at present cannot use their hands and arms, whil pointing firearms, to subdue prisoner's.

I achieve these and other objects by mounting a semi-automatic or automatic firearm such as an in itself complete, self loading pistol upon the head gear or helmet, providing the combination with reaction taking means for absorbing and distributing the reaction forces of the explosions in the gun to the boneand muscle-structure of the wearer, employing an aiming device for pointing the gun at the target by suitable positioning of the wearers head and operatively connecting it with fire control means responsive to muscular action upon organs of the wearer associated with his mouth.

In'the following the words "gun and "skullcap are used as synonymous of pistol and head, respectively.

Hence one object of my invention is to provide a helmet mounted gun in which an automatic or semi-automatic firearm such as an in itself complete, with one hand operable self-loading pistol is rigidly but releasably fastened to an impact protective head gear or helmet in predetermined relative position that is entirely on the outer side of the supporting helmet so that the latter protects the wearer from the efiects of explosion of the ammunition in h iormer.

Another object is to provide a helmet mounted pistol employing an aiming device presenting an optical axis as determined by two aligning elements such as hair line crosses and/or sights carried by said aiming device and movable into the field of vision of the wearer which optical axis is in predetermined relationship with the axis of the barrel of the firearm so that pointing the former at the target by suitably moving wearer's head the barrel axis is also pointed substantially thereat with predetermined accuracy.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described in which the helmet is provided with means to start, stop, and maintain, respectively, firing of the gun by depressing or releasing the trigger thereof responsive to pressure developed or relaxed by muscular action of the wearer upon body organs associated with his mouth, such as contraction and expansion of the chest and closing, respectively opening of the jaws.

Another object is to provide a device set forth which employs firing control means including a pneumatic prime mover for depressing the trigger of the gun which prime mover is operated by gaseous matter expelled from the mouth of the wearer.

Still another object is to provide a helmet mounted gun employing firing control means including a diaphragm motor operated by the pressure of gaseous matter expelled from the mouth of the wearer by the action of his chest muscles.

Another object is to provide a helmet mounted pistol that employs firing control means including a pneumatic cylinder motor for depressing the trigger of the gun which cylinder motor is operated by gaseous matter expelled from the mouth of the wearer.

Another object is to provide a helmet mounted pistol which employs trigger control means including a flexible line controller operable by the pressure of the teeth developed by the jaw muscles of the wearer.

Another object is to provide a helmet mounted pistol-carrying female and male coacting attachment means for rigidly and quickly mounting the gun upon the helmet in proper alignment with the aiming means and in cooperative position with the firing control means mounted on the helmet, said attachment means being associated with locking means including resilient means opposing the disengagement of the attachment means, whereby the assembly of the gunmember with the support-member is achieved by sliding them together along the attachment means, and the disassembly is effectuated by pulling them apart after deflecting the resilient locking means, in a similar fashion a bayonet is assembled with, respectively disassembled from a rifle.

A still further object is to provide a helmet mounted pistol which employs as the support of the pistol a'helmetgthatencasessubstantially the skull-cap or head of the wearer with a relatively narrow radial gap occupied by reaction taking means such as a resilient lining, resilient bracing means and strap means for absorbingand distributing upon the boneand muscle-structure of the wearer the reaction foreescaused bythe explosions in the gun.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which is assembled in a bayonet-rifle fashion and is disassembled without detaching any fixed part from the device.

A further object is to;pr-ovide a helmet operatively mounting on the outer sidethereof a firearm in which ,the .helmet encasessubstantially the skull-cap of the wearer .andprotects it from theefiects oithe explosion of the ammunition in said firearm.

Yet another -object is to :provide :a helmet mounted gun which is simple in construction, re= liable in-operation, and inexpensive to manufacture.

The accomplishment-of these and other objects will be evident .to those skilled in the art when perusing this specification and the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is the semi diagrammatic representation .of the first preferred embodimentof my invention in side view chiefly inlnedian or central section, showing an automatic or semi automatic pistol fastened to the helmet by attachment means such as male and female coacting parts and resilient locking elements such as springs. These attachment means keep the pistol and helmet rigidly, but easily and .quickly demountably, fastened together in operative position in which the longitudinal axis of the barrel of the gun is substantially aimed at the target at which the optical axisof the aiming .means is pointed. The helmet is provided with a shock absorbing resilient lining, a resilient back-brace, chin strap and belt connector; through the resilient lining a flexible blow tube is laid conducting the gaseousmatter expelled from the mouth of the wearer to an air cylinder the spring loaded piston of which coacts with .a toggle mechanism to oscillate a finger lever acting upon the trigger of the pistol fordepressing it and firing the pistol thereby. The aiming means .and the bracket mounting it on the helmet is shown shifted from the near side half to the far side half of the helmet in order to show it in elevation for better understanding.

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fi 3 is a partial sectional View taken on line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fi 4 is a partial plane view taken on line 44 in Fig. l .and shows the aiming means such as a field glass and its adjustment and fastening to the helmet.

Fig. 5 is a side View, chiefly in median 0r central section, of the second referred embodiment of my invention which diifers from the first embodiment essentially only that the piston of the pneumatic cylinder acts directly upon the finger lever coacting with the trigger of the pistol for starting and maintainingflre. Also here the aiming means and its mounting bracket are shown shifted from the nearto the far side half of the helmet for the sake of clarity of the assembly.

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view taken on line 68 in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a somewhat enlarged fragmental side view, chiefly in section, of a modified form of the second lpreferred iembodiment .in "which a pneu- *matic diaphragmmotoris employed instead of the pneumatic cylinder.

Fig. 8 is the fragmental side View, chiefly in median or.centra1 section, of another modification of'thesecond embodiment in which a bellows is;use.d as :2. pneumatic prime mover.

Fig.19 iis:a side view, chiefly in section, of the third preferred embodiment of my invention whichdiffersessentially from the second embodiment in 'that'the'trigger control means comprise a flexible line controller consisting of a flexible line, wire or band guided for reciprocating motion in .astationary, .flexible.hollow conduit, the line being .operatedby ab'ell crankacted upon by the teeth pressed-ombythejaw muscles of the wearer. Theresilient back-brace is also modified showing a hinged, adjustable structure.

Fig. .lOis .a partial cross-sectional view taken on line l0-l 0.in.Fig.9

Fig. 1.1 is aJfragmental view .to a somewhat enlarged scale, ,partly in section, taken on .line I ll l -.in-Fig..9;

Fig. .lZisairagmental, somewhat enlarged elevational view of :that .endoftheflexible line control which is acted upon .by .theteeth of the wearer.

In all the .figures-the pistolandsome of thedirectly .coacting parts -.of thehelmet are shown to a larger scalelthan the helmet .itself the wearer is indicated bydot :and :dash lines.

Identical parts are-designated by identical numerals of reference-throughout the severalfigures of the drawing.

vReferring closer to .Figs. .1 to 4,.illustrating the first preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral .13 designates in general an automatic or semiautomatic firearm-such as a pistol, and the like .of suitablylight weight and relatively small dimensions and is adapted to be operated by one hand and loaded simultaneously with a relatively large number -of cartridges to be fired in succession by depressing the trigger of the gun. The pistol member has its own inherent firing means which includes a trigger through which it is operated by the secondary firing means that are carried bythe'support-member. The internal mechanisms of such guns 'are well known and I do not need to describeor show these.

Gun-member, generally designated by F3 has pistol grip or handle 13', frame I4, barrel l5,

trigger H5 and is fastened to a support-member constituting a helmet, generally designated by 7 H and adapted to encase with relatively narrow are fixed the roll-owing elements of the attachment means and locking means: groove l8, contamed in frame 14, lockspring l9, carrying dog or stop 20. fastened by suitable means such as screws 2! to frame 14, and trigger guard 22 having a suitable aperture 23. To helmet I! are rigidly fixed the following elements of the rearward group of the attachment means: bracket 24 having laterally protruding guide shoe of substantially T cross section slidingly fitting into groove l8 and abutting the lower surface of the trigger guard 22 and engaging' stop or dog 20 with its bottom surface when the gun member I3 is properly assembled with support member. or helmet Bracket 24 has a protruding preferably cylindrical hollow lug 26 the top of the outside surface of which slidingly fits aperture 23 of trigger guard plate 22.

The elements of the attachment means and locking means in the forward group which are integral with, or rigidly fixed to, parts of the pistol are: cavity 21 in frame I 4 and resilient lock means such as curved spring 28 accommodated in suitable slot 29 and held by suitable means such as one or more screws 30. The elements of the attachment means in the forward group which are rigidly fixed to, or integral with, helmet I! are: hollow boss 3| slidingly fitting into cavity 21, shoulder 32 and slot 33, both on boss 3|, the latter for snugly receiving the end portion of curved spring 28 with suitable pressure to cause sulficient friction opposing disengagement.

The enumerated and described elements of the rearward attachment means are similar to those employed in fastening a bayonet to a rifle hence I refer to them collectively as bayonet-rifle type engagement elemen Both rearward and forward attachment elements coact slidingly with their cooperating parts, hence I referto them collectively as male and female attachment means.

The attachment means on both pistol and helmet are shown to be arranged symmetrically to the vertical central plane through the axis of the pistol barrel dividing both, pistol and helmet, into left and right halves. It is, however, obvious that the attachment means may be asymmetrically arranged with respect to this central plane though the gun-member remains mounted centrally and substantially above the support member or helmet.

By arranging the elements of the attachment means into two (rearward and forward) groups, each being in itself effective and spaced one from the other at a, substantial distance which is preferably greater than the half length of the gun barrel the attachment is made rigid, accurate and the relative assembled position of gun and helmet practically identical in every instance of assembly.

Hollow lug 26 of bracket 24 forms aniaperture 34 of suitable dimensions to accommodate oscil-' latably finger lever 35 fulcrumed by 'pin'36 and urged by resilient means such as torsion spring 3! forward, in the direction toward the helmetinto its neutral, or ineffective position as shown in full lines. Toggle link 38 is oscillatably' mounted on finger lever 35 by suitable means such as clevis 39 and fulcrum pin 40 at one end and itsother end is hingedly connected to link 4| "by Integral with, or rigidly attached to, flange 46 is a pneumatic prime mover-having a stationa'ry part, shown to be a pneumatic cylinder 48 havin piston 49 as moving part reciprocably-arranged therein, the latter being provided with suitable sealing means such as grommet-.158. To p'is 6 ton '49 is rigidly but disconnectably fixed by suitable means such as threads piston rod 5| having a fiat head 52 abutting clevis 42 of toggle link 4|. Cylinder head 53, attached by threads or otherwise to pneumatic cylinder 48 has a suitable central hole through whichpiston rod 5| slidingly reciprocates. A suitable slot 54 is provided in the hollow bracket portion 26 for accommodating finger lever 35, clevis 39, and toggle link 38. Compression spring 55, seated between cylinder head 53 and piston 49, urges the latter toward its neutral ineffective, or downward end position in which toggle links 38 and 4|, due to the urge of torsion spring 31, are collapsed and finger'lever 35 is in its forward ineffective, or neutral position. The positions of Y all the moving parts, shown in full lines in Fig. 1, are referred to as the neutral, ineffective or non firing positions of the respective parts in contradistinction to the effec-:

tive or firing position, shown in dots and dashes. In the neutral position the orthogonal projection of finger lever 35 is within the projection of hollow bracket portion 26 so that former does not contact aperture 23 in trigger guard 22 and does not interfere therewith at the assembly of gun l3 and helmet As best'shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the neutral position finger lever 35 is at a slight distance from the forward edge of trigger I6 of pistol-member l3.

Pneumatic cylinder 48 has a suitable duct 56 into which is sealingly fastened by pipe threads or other approved means suitably shaped nipple 5! to the protruding end of which flexible tube 58 is sealingly fastened by suitable means such as clamp 59. Tube 58 which is shown to be made from fabric reinforced rubber is inserted through a suitable duct in a resilient shock absorbing lining 60 of helmet I! which lining has suitable thickness to occupy the relatively narrow radial gap between the inner surface of helmet I1 and the skull-cap of the wearer and snugly fits the inside surface of helmet I1.

The term tubing is synonym of tube.

Lining 60 has means for frictional engagement for retaining it in contact with the inner surface of the helmet. Such engagement means are one or more projections 6| of lining 60 snugly fitting hollow bosses 3|. Though I show only one hollow boss and one coacting projection of lining 68 it is obvious that a plurality of them may be employed at corresponding locations of the helmet and lining for suitable frictional engagement. It is also plain that the cavities of the hollow bosses may be undercut and the lining projections outwardly expanding for locking lining 60 to helmet Lining 60 is made from sponge rubber or similar material for obtaining greater resiliency and compressibility, better ventilation and distribution of shocks upon the skull of the wearer.

Hollow boss 3| is provided with perforations 62 and at its top rotatably mounts a perforated disk 63 which is turnable by knob 9| for selectively closing, opening, and regulating communication between lining and atmosphere to provide selectively adjustable ventilation through the pores of resilient lining 60 and holes 64 arranged in frame l4 of pistol l3.

To the forward end of tube 58 is sealingly attached mouth piece 65 fastened by known means such as clamp 59 to the tube and adapted to be held between the lips and/or the teeth of the wearer so that he may conveniently blow through it into tube 58 and cylinder 48 for operating piston used subsequently as 4 toggle, links 38,: and-4|. finger jlever 35 and trigger it.

Resilient brace :5 is rigidly fixed to the back portion of helmet I'l protruding downwardly therefrom. It has, at its lower end portion a resilient pad Bl rigidly attached thereto by suitable means such as rivets. 68.' Brace 6.6 has suitable length and resiliency to press pad 51 toward the vertebral region, of the body of the wearer and to permit him to assume standing or lying positions with helmet ll. operatively in place (see dot and dash lines in Fig. 1) made of rubber but it may be from other resilient material. I

Theaiming means associated with helmet IT and generally designated by 69 include bracket H1 having a flange l-l, fulcrum pin 72, cam 73, adjustable angle lever 14, field glass 75 and flat spring 76. Bracket protrudes forwardly from helmet H and carries fulcrum pin 12 having cam i3 rigidly fixed thereto. Angle lever is is rigidly attached by adjustable connections 79 and 80 of preferably threaded type and locked by jam nuts 8 l, to cam 13 and field glass 15, respectively. Cam 13; has two operative fiat surfaces 82 and 83 which are contacted and pressed upon by fiat spring 16, rigidly attached to flange H,. in the operativeand non-operative positions, respectively, of field glass 75 as shown in full lines and in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1. Suitable positive stops (not shown) limit the oscillation of field glass it to the indicated end positions. 'The location and dimensions of the parts ofthe aiming means 69 are such that in the operative position, as shown in full lines, field glass [5 is aligned with one, eye Of the wearer so that the optical axis 86 of the aiming means 59, as presented by aligning means such as the hairline crosses 84 and 85 arranged in field glass 75 coincides with that of the aiming eye. As flange l i is rigidly fixed by suitable means such as rivets "H to helmet I! which is rigidly attached to pistol I3 the optical axis 86 of the aiming-means will be, as to direction and location, in a predetermined relationship with,

longitudinal'axis 78 of pistol barrel I5. By properly setting and locking adjustable connections 19 and 80 accurate alignment of the aiming means with the eye of the wearer is obtained and by pointing the optical axis 86 at the target pistol barrel #5 is also substantially pointedthereat with predetermined accuracy. Though I have shown fieldglass (5 as part of the aiming means it-is obvious that it may be substituted by a skeleton structure providing hairline crosses 84 and 85 or their equivalents with or without lenses establishing optical axis Bracket '59 rigidly carries split resilient clamp 81 which is suitably dimensioned to receive and retain the end portion of tube'EB for storing it when it is not in use in a position ready for immediate employment. Field glass '55 is locked in both its operative and inoperative positions by the resilient pressure of spring 16 upon the respective operative fiat surfaces 82 and 83 of cam 73. 3 While I show the two end positions 180 apart it is plain that they may include another angle in Which case the two operative flat surfaces of the cam will have to form a suitable angle with each other Means to prevent a rearward rotation of the helmet due to thecounterclockwise torque developed by the reaction of the explosions, is provided partially by the already described brace'86 and pad 67 and partially by adjustable chin straps? fastened by suitable strap engagement Pad 61 is shown to be,

means such as hasps 8&. 0;h 1met -I i- Chin r p 88 ,15. preferably-tied by adjustable strap 99 to a belt (not shown) worn by the operator around his waist or chest for added security.

The. first preferred embodiment of my inven-. tion operates as: follows? Pistol i3 is fastened to helmet H by sliding guide flangela-into grooves IS inframe i4 and moving the gun. downwardly until the top of hollow lug Z'G slides through aperture 23 in trigger guard plate 22 and dog 20 on spring !9 engages; the bottom surface of bracket 24, simulta neously inserting hollow boss-3| into cavity 2? in frame l4 until spring 2-8 engages groove 33 on hollow boss 3|. Chin strap'88 and strap 9! are adjustedand', tightened, mouth piece 65 of flex ible tube 5 8 is inserted between; the lips and/or teeth; of the wearer and the aiming means 69, previously adjustedby suitably setting'screwed conneGtionH-and; 80, is placed into operative position in which the; optical axis of field glass coincides with that of the aiming eye of the wearer. v

vTo aim the pistol wearer tilts his head at an angle at which the, optical axis 86 of field glass ":"5 is pointed at the target with predetermined vertical and lateral allowance. depending upon the-distance). therebyaiming longitudinal axis 28 of-gun barrel 15 at the target with sufiicient accuracy.

To fire p tol-: 3 he; Wear-er; y on r ctin his chest muscles and emitting a blast of exhaled gaseous matter (usedup air, carbon dioxide, water vapor, etc.) through the mouth piece t5, flexible tube 53, nipple 5? and duct 55 into pneumaticcylinder 18, forces; piston 1555 against the urge of spring 55'upward spreading thereby toggle links 38 and 41- which oscillate finger lever 35 against the pressure of: torsionspring 3! into its rearward or efiective position depressing trigger Hi into-its firing position (shown in Fig. l bydot and dash lines). If pistol is is a semi automatic firearm for eachdischarge it will be necessary for the wearer to emit a separate blast for each shot successively depressing and releasingtrigger [6 which, when released, is returned by the well known operating mechanism (not shown) of pistol l3 into its'non-firing or neutral position. It pistol [3 is an automatic firearm, one. blast, respectively one depression of trigger 16 will be necessary to fire the first shot and successive shots willf ollow as long as trigger l6 stays depressed by suitable'pres'sur-eof gaseous matter maintained by the operator.

. After the shfioting is temporarily finished the operator sw n s the aiming means '59 about pin.

I-2; counterclockwise into non-operative position awayfrom his field of vision and slides the outer end of tube, 58 into clamp 81 for convenient storage (shown indot and dash lines in Fig. 1).

Figures 5-and6 illustrate the second preferred embodiment of my invention which is very similar to the first except that the piston or moving part: of the, pneumatic cylinder or stationary part of the" pneumatic prime mover acts directly upon the trigger depressing finger lever. Omitting the-descriptionof the parts identical with those used in the first embodiment, hence already described and designated by the same numerals, I describe now only the parts which are different hence referred to, byditierent numbers.

'. Finger lever I0!) is oscillatably'mounted at its hubinthe hollow lug- [M of bracket I82 by fulcrumpinr36, supporting torsion spring 31 that urges the finger'leveriiorwardly against piston I03 reciprocably mounted in pneumatic cylinder I04 integral with bracket I02 and flange I05 rigidly fixed to helmet I06. The forward end of cylinder I04 is sealed by suitable means such as threaded tubular plug I01 having a projecting neck I08 to which flexible tube 58 is fastened. Piston I03 is provided with suitable sealing means such as one or more grommets 50. The rearward end of piston I03 is convexly curved forming a preferably spherical end portion I03 for slidingly engaging finger lever I00. Helmet I06 has strap engagement means such as apertures I09 for engagement with chin strap 88. Shock absorbing lining IIO has a suitably shaped duct to accommodate flexible tube 58.

The operation of the second preferred embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first except that the gaseous pressure from the mouth of the wearer moves piston I03 and finger lever I00 against the urge of torsion spring 31 depressing trigger I6 into firing position.

Fig. '1 illustrates a modification of the second preferred embodiment consisting in substituting a pneumatic diaphragm motor for the pneumatic cylinder. The hollow lug I20 of bracket I2I, rigidly attached to, or integral with, helmet I22, accommodates finger lever I23 which is oscillatably mounted therein from its neutral or ineifective position into its effective or firing position about pin 36 supporting torsion spring 31. Finger lever I23, hingedly mounts by pin I24 link I25 that is oscillatably connected by pin I26 to stem I21 to which the central portion of flexible diaphragm I28 is sealingly fastened by screw I29. Stem I21, screws I29 and diaphragm I28 compose the moving portion of the diaphragm motor constituting the pressure exerting means in this embodiment.

The peripheral region of diaphragm I28 is sealingly clamped between annular seat I30, integral with bracket I2I, and cover I3I fastened to the seat by suitable means such as screws I32 and forming the stationary part of the diaphragm motor. Cover I3I has a forwardly protruding tubular portion I33 adapted to sealingly receive the end portion of flexible tube 58 fastened thereto by clamp 59. A suitable slot I34 is provided in hollow portion I20 of bracket I2I through which link I25 and stem I21 can reciprocate without interference.

The mode of operation of this modified form differs from that of the second preferred embodiment only that the gaseous matter expelled from the mouth of the operator is conveyed through tube 58 into the space between diaphragm I28 and cover I3I acting upon the substantially larger area of diaphragm I28 and exerting a correspondingly greater force upon finger lever I23 oscillating it rearwardly against the urge of torsion spring 31 depressing trigger I6 and thereby discharging gun I3. When the operator releases the pressure from his mouth into the atmosphere torsion spring 31 moves finger lever I23, link I25, stem I21 and diaphragm I28 into their forward, neutral or ineffective position.

. Fig. 8 illustrates another modification of the second preferred embodiment in whicha bellows is used instead of the pneumatic cylinder.

Bellows I35 has rearward plate I36 hingedly connected through clevis I31 and pin I38 to finger lever I39, oscillatably accommodated by pin 36 in hollow portion I40 of bracket I4I rigidly fastened to helmet I42. The forward plate of bellows I35 is rigidly fastened to helmet I42 and is provided with a tubular extension. I44 adapted to sealingly 10 receive the end portion of tube 58 fastened thereto by clamp 59. Slot I45 in hollow lug I40 of bracket I4I permits clevis I31 to reciprocate therethrough.

The mode of operation of this modified form differs from that of the second preferred embodiment only in that the gaseous matter expelled from the operators mouth expands bellows I35 and moves clevis I31 and finger lever I39 rear- Wardly, depressing trigger I6 for discharging pistol I3.

Figures 9 to 12 illustrate the third preferred embodiment of my invention which differs from the previously described ones chiefly in that the firing means consist of a flexible line controller operated by the jaw muscles of the wearer and the brace of the shock absorbing means is adjustable.

Avoiding description of the already disclosed parts-I elaborate now only upon the new or modified elements designated by new numerals of reference.

Hollow lug I56 of bracket I5I accommodates in its suitably dimensioned cavity finger lever I52 which is oscillatably mounted by fulcrum pin 36 supporting torsion spring 31, that urges finger lever I52 forwardly toward the support-member or helmet, generally designated by I53. Finger lever I52 is double armed the upper arm acting upon trigger I6 and the lower having eye I54 which is engaged by flexible line, wire or band I55 that is led through a suitable ferrule I56, attached rigidly to bracket I5I, and through flexible conduit I51 in a corresponding duct in resilient lining I58 forwardly, toward the mouth of the wearer. The inner end of flexible conduit I51 is rigidly fixed to ferrule I56 and the outer end to a terminal bracket I59 oscillatably mounting bell crank I60 fulcrumed by pin I6I, as best seen in Fig. 10. The forward arm of bell crank I60 has two eyes I62 and I63; to eye I62 is fixed the outer end of flexible line I55 and into eye I63 is hooked the return spring I64 which also engages suitably located eye I65 on terminal bracket I59. The rearward extension I66 of terminal bracket I59 and the corresponding arm I 61 of bell crank I60 are suitably curved to be securely engaged by the teeth I68 of the operator. Bracket I5I has a flange I69 which is rigidly fastened by suitable means such as rivets I10 to helmet I53. Hollow lug I50 of bracket I5I has an aperture I1I coacting with suitably dimensioned projection I12 of resilient lining I58 for increased retention by friction.v

The bracing portion, generally designated by I13 of the reaction taking means carried by helmet I53 consists of rib I14 which is integral with, or rigidly fastened to, the helmet I53. Rib I16 carries arcuate slot I15 guiding screw 316 traversing arm I11 that is oscillatably mounted to rib I13 by pin I18. As best seen in Fig. 11 screw I16 is provided with wing nut I19 by which arm I11 is locked to rib I14 in any desired relative position.

Rigidly fastened to arm I11 is resilient brace I00 which is shown to be a flat spring mounting at its downward end portion resilient pad I8I made of sponge rubber or similar elastic material fastened thereto by any approved means such as rivets I82.

The mode of operation of this embodiment is similar to those previously described except that the depression of trigger I6 is done by the pressure of the contracting jaw muscles of the operator acting through his teeth upon the bell crank and fle'i'iible line or the controller est inatingtne finger lever. The resilient trace is set by loosening wing nut I19 and turning ariii [Ti about pin I18 sliding screw I16 iri slot I15 into the desired position by rotating arm I11 and with it brace I80 and pad I 8! to contact tip-craters back with the desired pressure in his assumed position. The aiming device 69 is the same as in the previously described Embodiments. 7

Rib 114 may form an integral part of bracket l! instead or beingfixed directly to helmet [53. In an embodiments the remaie rearward attachment means are: aperture 23 in trigger guard 22 and groove l 8 in' frarrie Id of pistol member l3; the, male rearward attachment means are:

hollowl'ugstfi trig. 1 tr 101 (Fig. s), or its (Fig. 9) and guide shoe 25 protruding from brackets 24, I02 and [5| of support members 11,

I06, and 153, respectively, The femaleforward attachrnent means is cavity 21 in frame 1'4 "of construction or ma'y be integral. The firing control means in all embodiments are operated by pressure developed by muscular action of the wea r upon body organs associated with his m'o th such muscles being the chest muscles to situate compressed gaseous matter issuing from the mouth or the jaw muscles pressing the teeth upon the bell crank of the flexible line controller. Chest and jaws are assoc'ziated with the mouth.

I It will be noted that in all embodiments of my invention the gun-member has its inherent firing means which I call primary firing means and whic includesa trigger and the support member carries the scbndary firing means including oscillating lever means and pressure' 'exerting ns. Thesebondary firing means act upon the trigger-hi the primary firing means depressing it into firin D'osititn. II I I In. the. operation of all embodiments the supp'ort-fin nibr or helmet, attached to the gunmember, increases their common mass thereby decreasing the velocity of the recoil and dampening its effects. The support-member, being positioned between the g1m aremt'er and the operators head protects the latter from the effect of the expiesiens in the former.

inber, being mounted outside of the suppor'tmeet, is substantially visible and has "a deter ent, surrender inviting effect upon an adversary. I

Inasmuch the primary firing means, inherent to the pistol member are well known and I claim no improvement relating to them, the expression ing means refers exclusively to the secondary firing means, carried by the support member. I

Hailing fully alsdlb 's e d intention and described and illustrated preferred embodiments thereof it will be understood that various changes and modifications maybe resorted to by those skilled in the art without departing from the spiritf'and scope of my invention, hence I do not intend to be limited by the illustrated embodii2 ments but what I claim as new and wish ttpro tect by Letters Patent is: I I I 1. Helmet mounted pistol comprising a support member forming a helmet having a cavity for encasing substantially a human head and a pistol member being a completerepeating pisfol operable as SllCh by one hand without said uspcrtmemter and having a frame, a barrel, a handle, a trigger and a trigger-guard, slidingly coactirigfemale'and male rearward attachment means andsir'iiilarly cooperating forward attachment means, the former being located in the protiirnit y Of Said trigger and including a bracket fined to said support member and aving a hollow, upwardly protruding lug, the latter being located adjacent to the forward portion er said barrehresilient kicking means tending to seep saia iefiine and male attachment means assemtied, sting means; independent from and unattached to said pistol member and carried by said support member, said firin means including a finger lever mounted risenlatably between ineffective and efiective p'o's'rtions substantially in said hollow lug eittending in its ineffective position close to the operative side of said trigger, pressure xerting means and resihent return means, both or which being carried by supporflfiiinber and to both of which said i-lring means are responsive. said pressure exerting means being e'iieig zapie by human muscular action and, being resiliently opposed by ret mmea'ns'wnerety the hergized pressure exerting means oscillates "said finger lever from its inefiectiv'e into its effective position depressing said trigger and snag said pistol member and saidre'turn means restores said firing means to itsineffective position when said pressure exertingmeansis deener'g'ized, said attachment means fasten said pistol member entirely outside of said support member, free and visible in the atmosphere, said support member shielding the therein encased human head from the effects of firing said pistol member and pre serving the moral e fifect thereof -by total and prominent display of it, outside of said support member, I I

2. Helmet mounted pistol comprising a support member forming a helmet having a cavity for encasing substantially a human head and a pistol member-beinga complete repeating pistel operable as such by one hand without said support member and haviinga frame, 'a barrel, a handle, a trigger and a trigger-guard, slidingly coasting female and male rearward attach ment means and similarly cooperating forward attachment means, the former being located in the proximity or said trigger and including, a bracket fixed to said support member andhaving a hollow, upwardly protruding lug, the-latter being located adjacent to the forward portion of said barrel, resilientlocking. means tend:-

'-i-ng to keep saidfemale and male. attachment means assembled,firing-means, independent from and unattached to saidpistol-member and carried by said support -member said firing means including a finger raver mounted oscillatably between I ineffective and effective positions substantially in said -holl'owlug and extending in its/ineffective position close to the operative side of said trigger, pressure "exerting means and res-ilient return means, both of which being carried by said support member and to both of "which said firing means are-responsive, said pressure exerting means i are energizable by human rims- 'cu lar action and being resiliently opposed by said return means whereby the-:energized pressure exerting means oscillates said finger lever from its ineffective into its effective position depressing said trigger. and firing said pistol member and said return means restores said firing means to its ineffective position when said pressure exerting means is deenergized, said attachment means fasten said pistol member entirely outside of said support member, free and visible in the atmosphere, said support member shielding the therein encased human head from the effects of firing said pistol member and preserving the moral effect thereof by total and prominent display of it outside of said support member, said pressure exerting means'including a pneumatic prime mover having a stationary part fixed to said support member and a moving part therein displaceable by the pressure of a gaseous medium, means operatively connecting said moving part to said finger lever, flexible tube means, at its near end sealingly fastened to said stationary part and at its far end provided with a mouthpiece adapted to be held in a human mouth, for conducting said gaseous medium expelled therefrom into said stationary part to displace said moving part in opposition to said return means.

3. Helmet mounted pistol comprising a support member forming a helmet having a cavity for encasing substantially a human head and a pistol member being a complete repeating pistol operable as such by one hand without said support member and having a frame, a barrel, a handle, a trigger and a trigger-guard, slidingly coacting female and male rearward attachment means and similarly cooperating forward attachment means, the former being located in the proximity of said trigger and including a bracket fixed to said support member and having a hollow, upwardly protruding lug, the latter being located adjacent to the forward portion of said barrel, resilient locking means tending to keep said female and male attachment means assembled, firing means, independent from and unattached to said pistol member and carried by said support member, said firing means including a finger lever mounted oscillatably between ineffective and effective positions substantially in said hollow lug and extending in its ineffective position close to the operative side of said trigger, pressure exerting means and resilient return means, both of which being carried by said support member and to both of which said firing means are responsive, said pressure exerting means are energizable by human muscular action and being resiliently opposed by said return means whereby the energized pressure exerting means oscillates said finger lever from its ineffective into its effective position depressing said trigger and firing said pistol member and said return means restores said firing means to its ineffective position when said pressure exerting means is deenergized, said attachment means fasten said pistol member entirely outside of said support member, free and visible in the atmosphere, said support member shielding the therein encased human head from the effects of firing said pistol member and preserving the moral effect thereof by total and prominent display of it outside of said support member, said pressure exerting means including a, diaphragm motor having a stationary part fixed to said support member and a moving diaphragm thereing displaceable by the pressure of a, gaseous medium, a linkage operatively connecting said diaphragm to said finger lever, flexible tube means, at its near end sealingly fastened to said stationary part and its far end provided with a mouth-piece adapted to be held in a human mouth, for conducting said gaseous medium expelled therefrom into said stationary part to displace said diaphragm in opposition to said return means.

4. Helmet mounted pistol comprising a support member forming, a helmet having a cavity for encasing substantially a human head and a pistol member being a complete repeating pistol operable as such by one hand without said support member and having a frame, a barrel, a handle, a trigger and a trigger guard, slidingly coacting female and male rearward attachment means located in they proximity of said trigger and forming a bayonet-rifle type engagement between said members and including a bracket fixed to said support member and having a hollow, upwardly protruding lug and parallel with it also a guide shoe, of substantially T-shaped section, an aperture in said trigger-guard slidingly fitting the outside surface of said lug, a downwardly extending endwise, open groove in said frame slidingly receiving said guide shoe, slidingly cooperating female and male forward attachment means located adjacent to the forward portion of said barrel and including a cavity in said frame, a boss upwardly protruding from said support member and slidingly fitting into said last mentioned cavity, a slot in said boss, resilient locking means tending to keep said female and male attachment means assembled and including a fiat spring mounted in said groove and provided with a dog engaging said guide shoe and a fiat spring carried by said frame and engaging said slot in said boss, firing means, independent from and unattached to said pistol member and carried by said support member, said firing means including a finger lever mounted oscillatably between ineffective and effective positions substantially in said hollow lug and extending in its ineffective position close to the operative side of said trigger, pressure exerting means and resilient return means, both of which being carried by said support member and to both of which said firing means are responsive, said pressure exerting means being energizable by human muscular action and being resiliently opposed by said return means whereby the energized pressure exerting means oscillates said finger lever from its ineffective into its effective position depressing said trigger and firing said pistol member and said return means restores said firing means to its ineffective position when said pressure exerting means is deenergized, said attachment means fasten said pistol member entirely outside of said support member, free and visible in the atmosphere, said support member shielding the therein encased human head from the effects of firing said pistol member and preserving the moral effect thereof by total and prominent display of it outside of said support member.

5. Helmet mounted pistol according to claim 2 in which said stationary part of said pneumatic prime mover is a cylinder and said moving part is a piston reciprocably mounted therein, said linkage includes toggle levers and said return means includes springs urging said finger lever and said piston toward their ineffective positions.

6. Helmet mounted pistol according to claim 4 in which said pressure exerting means includes 15 a pneumatic prime mover havingastationary part fixed to saidsupport member and a mov-- ing part operatively connected-to lsaid finger lever, said moving part being displaceably, mount ed in said stationary part and being responsive to the pressure of a gaseous medium, flexible tube means, at its near end sealingly fastened to said stationary part and at its far-end pro vided with a .mouthpiece.i adapted to beheld in a human mouth for conducting said gaseous medium expelled therefrom into said stationary part to displace said moving part in opposition to said return means.

7. Helmet mounted pistol accordingto claim 4 in which said pressure exerting means includes a diaphragm motor having a stationary part affixed to said support member and a moving diaphragm therein displaoeable'by the pressure of a gaseous medium, a linkage operatively connecting said diaphragm to said finger lever, flexible tube means, at its near end sealingly fastened .to said stationary part and at its far end provided with a mouth-piece adapted to be held in a human mouth, for conducting said gaseous medium expelled therefrom into said stationary "16 part to displacelsaid diaphragm in opposition to said return means.

8..Helmet mounted pistol according to claim 4 in which saidpre'ssure exerting means include a flexible-conduit fixed-at its near end to said supportjmember a bell crank carried by said conduit at its far end, a flexible line reciprocably mounted in said conduit and hingedly connected at one end to said finger lever and at the other end to said'bell crank adapted tobe operated by humanjaivs whereby: pressure on said belfcrank oscillates said finger. lever from its ineffective position into its effective position depressing said trigger and firing said pistol member.

7 ALBERT B. DE SALARDI.

Referenc C ed min file of thi pa en UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 38,683 Johnson May 26, 1863 1,183,492 Pratt 1 May 16, 1916 1,323,609 Pratt Dec. 2, 1919 2,381,547 Leininger Aug. 7, 1945 

